Former India captain Rahul Dravid opened up about whether the Men in Blue would miss someone like himself or Cheteshwar Pujara in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT).
Rahul Dravid said that Shubman Gill will excel at the No. 3 position, despite his batting style differing from his and Pujara’s.
Rahul Dravid played a crucial role in the India team’s drawn 2003-04 series in Australia as he averaged nearly 124.
Overall, Dravid scored 1166 runs in 16 Test matches on Australian soil. Cheteshwar Pujara scored 521 runs in four matches during the 2018-19 series and 271 runs in the 2020-21 series.
They’ve Got Shubman Gill – Rahul Dravid
When asked if India would miss someone like him or Pujara at No. 3, Rahul Dravid said that Shubman Gill is a terrific player, adding that his style is different compared to himself and Pujara. Dravid also said that Shubman had great success in Australia during the last Test series.
“Well, they’ve got Shubman Gill, who is a terrific player. He’s had some great success in Australia the last time. Everyone talks about Rishabh’s 80 [89] and rightly so, but I think Shubman got 91 to set the game up on that fifth morning. So no, he’s a fine, fine player, he’s a great kid, and he’s learning. Bats differently, slightly, to me and Pujara, but still a very, very good player,” Dravid told ESPNcricinfo.
Shubman Gill Ruled Out Of Perth Test Due To Thumb Injury
The five-Test series between India and Australia will commence at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Friday, November 22. Shubman Gill was picked for the No. 3 position for the upcoming series. However, Gill has reportedly been ruled out of the first Test match after suffering a thumb injury in practice.
Gill made his debut as an opener during India’s 2020-21 tour of Australia. The 25-year-old scored 259 runs in the three Tests at an average of 51.80, including two half-centuries. He scored a crucial 91 runs in the final innings of the Brisbane Test, where India chased 328 runs to secure a 2-1 series win.
Runs On The Top Order Will Be Important – Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid said that India’s top four batters need to score runs for a successful Test series in Australia. He stated that surviving against the new ball is crucial in Australian conditions, as batting becomes easier against the softened Kookaburra ball.
“Runs on the top will be important. Now whether it comes from one, two or three or four, it doesn’t really matter. You’re going to need one of that top four or two of the top four to have a great series,” said Dravid.
“That really helps in Australia. With the Kookaburra ball and those conditions, if you can get through that initial period and have your top four soak in a lot of that period, it really allows your lower order to be able to control and dominate those games,” he remarked.
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